Himachal Congress gets new chief

Himachal Pradesh Congress President Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was replaced on Thursday by Kuldeep Rathore, a confidant of former Union Minister Anand Sharma, the party said.

Sukhu was replaced owing to differences between him and six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who was demanding his replacement before the Lok Sabha polls.

Sukhu, a legislator, had been President of the party since 2013.

“The party appreciates the hard work and contribution of Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who will be stepping down from his responsibility as PCC (Pradesh Congress Committee) President of Himachal Pradesh,” an official statement signed by All India Congress Committee General Secretary Ashok Gehlot said.